Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab. to treatments of crude volatile oil from Piper betle L. and evaluation of toxicity to earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinb

Authors: VASANTHA-SRINIVASAN, PRABHAKARAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); SENTHIL-NATHAN, SENGOTTAYAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); THANIGAIVEL, ANNAMALAI - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); EDWIN, EDWARD-SAM - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); PONSANKAR, ATHIRSTAM - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); SELIN-RANI, SELVARAJ - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); PRADEEPA, VENKATRAMAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); SAKTHI-BHAGAVATHY, MUTHIAH - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); KALAIVANI, KANDASWAMY - Sri Jayachamarajendra College Of Engineering; Hunter, Wayne; DURAIPANDIYAN, VEERAMUTHU - King Saud University; AL-DHABI, NAIF ABDULLAH - King Saud University

Submitted to: Chemosphere
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2016
Publication Date: 4/29/2016
Citation: Vasantha-Srinivasan, P., Senthil-Nathan, S., Thanigaivel, A., Edwin, E.S., Ponsankar, A., Selin-Rani, S., Pradeepa, V., Sakthi-Bhagavathy, M., Kalaivani, K., Hunter, W.B., Duraipandiyan, V., Al-Dhabi, N. 2016. Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab. to treatments of crude volatile oil from Piper betle L. and evaluation of toxicity to earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinb. Chemosphere. 155:336-347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.139.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.139

Interpretive Summary: Development of insecticide resistance has promoted efforts to discover new plant chemistries which have insecticidal properties. Extracts made from leaves of Piper betle produced a crude volatile oil (Pb-CVO) which was evaluated for insecticidal effects on the tobacco cutworm. Results showed that mixtures of the twenty compounds from betel leaf oil were significant inhibitors of larvae development. Treatment showed no adverse effect on earthworm survival. Further development from these compounds as biorational products to reduce insect pests may be warranted.

Technical Abstract: Development of insecticide resistance has promoted efforts to discover new plant chemistries which have insecticidal properties. Extracts from Piper betle leaves, crude volatile oil (Pb-CVO) were tested by feeding on the tobacco cutworm S. litura. Analyses of the Pb-CVO was subjected to GC-MS with twenty compounds being identified. Pb-CVO was tested at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 percent) against S. litura larvae. The insects exhibited a dose dependent mortality. Larvae mortality rate was significantly greater above 1.0 percent Pb-CVO. The LC50 for larvae was observed at 0.48 percent Pb-CVO. Larval and pupal development times increased at all concentrations (0.25, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 percent) whereas, pupal weight decreased compared to controls. Adult longevity of S. litura was reduced in all treatments but predominantly at 0.4 and 0.5 percent Pb-CVO. Mean fecundity rates were reduced at all concentrations compared to control. Histological studies of larvae mid-gut profiles of S. litura showed severe damaged at rates above 1.0 percent with abnormalities in mid-gut cells present at 0.25 and 0.5 percent Pb-CVO treatments. Earthworm toxicity analyses illustrated compared 0.1 percent of chemical insecticides (monocrotophos and cypermethrin) to Pb-CVO for contact toxicity. Pb-CVO had significantly less toxic effects, at 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent Pb-CVO using two different bioassays: Contact filter paper and Artificial soil test. The results showed that mixtures of the twenty compounds from betel leaf oil were significant inhibitors of S. litura development. Treatment with betel leaf oil at these concentrations had no adverse effect on earthworm populations. Further separation and development from these compounds as a biorational products to reduce insect pests may be warranted.